Eto'o danced like a monkey when taunted by Zaragoza fans in 2005

Barcelona's Cameroonian striker Samuel Eto'o has been spared another face-off with Real Zaragoza fans after being left out of Saturday's league clash.

The Spanish club said Eto'o was receiving treatment on a muscle strain in his right leg.

But media speculation in Spain suggest that he has been left out of the tie to prevent another racist taunting of the Cameroon ace.

Eto'o threatened to walk off the pitch during last season's match at Zaragoza after receiving racist abuse from the home crowd.

Two years ago the Barcelona striker danced like a monkey at the same Romareda stadium to celebrate his goal in response to racist abuse.

Meanwhile, the Cameroon striker said on Thursday that he has not fully recovered from a knee injury he sustained in September which sidelined him for four months.

The Barcelona striker underwent surgery shortly after he ruptured the meniscus in his right knee during a Champions League match against Werder Bremen in September last year.

He returned to the pitch at the beginning of February, sooner than initially predicted by doctors, and has scored four times since his comeback.

"The injury is still there. I am still not fully fit. It is improving but I am still not at 100 percent," the Cameroonian said.

"The truth is that we are very far from seeing the best Eto'o."